History of Mar-a-Lago

Post cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post was Mrs. Edward F. Hutton when she commissioned Marion Sims Wyeth to build a 58-bedroom Spanish-Moorish-Portuguese-Venetian palace on 17 acres of woods between the ocean and the Intracoastal. When it was completed in 1927, Viennese architect and theater designer Joseph Urban provided most of the decoration.

How long did it take to build Mar-a-Lago?

Six hundred workers worked for more than three years to build Mar-a-Lago, using boatloads of Italian stone and nearly 36,000 antique Spanish and Portuguese tiles, as well as old marble floors and roof tiles from Cuba. The estate’s 75-foot tower is a South Florida landmark and helps boaters navigate.

When he died in 1973, Post gave Mar-a-Lago to the U.S. government for his presidential retreat, but the government balked over Mar-a-Lago’s million-dollar annual maintenance cost and its location under the flight path of Palm Beach International Airport .

There are no sidewalks. How can people ‘see’ Mar-a-Lago?

The main entrance is on South Ocean Boulevard. To see Mar-a-Lago, you have to drive by. People can park and walk even if you are on the road. It’s not uncommon for people to pull over to take in the view. However, it is very dangerous as there is no sidewalk and there is no shoulder on the roadside.

Is Mar-a-Lago open to the public?

Because it is a private club, Mar-a-Lago is not generally open to the public. Mar-a-Lago closes on Mother’s Day and reopens on Halloween, following the traditional final brunch of the social season.

How big is Mar-a-Lago?

Mar-a-Lago is 17 acres. It seems like a lot for one property, but there’s a lot going on there. The private club has 500 members. Amenities include tennis, Beach Club, croquet court and spa.

We don’t know the exact size of Mar-a-Lago’s living quarters, but it is estimated to be between 2,000 and 3,000 square feet.

What does ‘Mar-a-Lago’ mean?

Trump and Mar-a-Lago security breaches: Events that embarrassed the Secret Service

The Palm Beach Post’s Christine Stapleton discusses security at Mar-a-Lago while Trump is president and what to expect post-presidency

Antonio Fins and Jennifer Sangalang, Palm Beach Post

Mar-a-Lago, which means “Sea to Lake” in Spanish, is located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway.

When did Donald Trump buy Mar-a-Lago in Florida?

In 1985, Donald Trump paid $10 million for the property, which had 33 bathrooms, three bomb shelters and a nine-hole golf course. A decade later he transformed it into a private club with a spa, tennis and croquet courts, a new ballroom and beach club.

How much is Mar-a-Lago worth?

In 2018, Forbes estimated the Mar-a-Lago property was worth about $160 million.

What was Mar-a-Lago like when Trump was president?

When Trump became president from 2017 to 2021, he would host events and unexpectedly appear at events and galas. He was often seen on the dining porch. Many of the people there were among his biggest supporters.

Where is Mar-a-Lago in Florida?

Spanning 17 acres of prime waterfront real estate, the luxury estate is located in Palm Beach, Florida. When Trump became president, his motorcade often used Southern Boulevard for trips between Palm Beach International Airport and Mar-a-Lago.

What are some interesting Mar-a-Lago facts?

These quick recordings were from the Palm Beach Post archives. Subscribe to Palm Beach Post To read more fascinating stories about Mar-a-Lago, Trump and other Palm Beach news.

• In 1928, a deadly hurricane made landfall near West Palm Beach that year. Mar-a-Lago remained relatively unscathed.
• The owner’s bedroom is still in the XV century, as it was then. It is decorated in Louis style.
• Some rooms have themes and names, such as the Adam room and the American room.
• The fireplace in the children’s room has a Sleeping Beauty theme.

Security at Mar-a-Lago

There have been a number of security breaches during Trump’s presidency, some of which occurred when Trump was not in town.

• In January 2020, an opera singer managed to pass through security checkpoints. There was a high-speed chase through all the barricades until they passed Mar-a-Lago. His car was shot at several times. He survived, but his car was totaled. The woman, who had a history of mental illness, entered the insanity defense.
• Two Chinese women tried to enter Mar-a-Lago. A woman was carrying four mobile phones and a malware-infected USB.
• A University of Wisconsin student was caught in the tunnel connecting the club to the beach.
• Others hid in the bushes and were captured.

Credit: Christine Stapleton, Antonio Fins, Palm Beach Post